Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-05-06
Reason VS.. f;umbast.

The STANDARD has always considered
it a duty as well as privilege, to ex-
press its sentiments upon all questions
of public importance. 1t has done SO
regardless Of personal considerations,
oftimcs at Il sacrifice al ptcuniary
benefit and sometimes ut Il e. st # per
sonal friendship and the alienation of
some of its political co-laborcrs whose
ideas Of public propriety or party usage
did not for the time coincide with the
policy in view. The writer does not
believe that even its most determined
adversaries have ever charged or be-
lieved that it has been influenced by
mere sordid considerations, or that it
has been made the means of advanc-
ing any personal ambition of its
owner except that which is involved in
the publication of a reliable party
journal. The concession of honesty
of purpose resulting from long-contin-
ued labors in minority party, has
been so generally accorded that the
column or more of personal abuse Of
the STANDARD which appears in the
Transcript of last week-simply be-
cause it criticised, in a manly, dignified
and impersonal manner certain official
acts of its own party adherents-is
somewhat of surprise to the COM
munity, and creates very general be-
lief that its author is, after all, more
Of IA fool than a knave, although such
popular names as Judas" and An
nanias," bestowed upon him at times
and supposed to cover his prevailing
personal characteristics, would imply
a somewhat different conclusion. The
STANDARD seeks no controversy with
one whose only idea of journalism
seems to be to SANDER and malign his
fellow man, and we here ask pardon of
our readers for departing so far from
what we conceive to be the line of duty
to dignity it by any serious thought.
The point raised of the propriety of
certain acts of public officers is one
which may be ligitimately discussed,
and the writer is ready at any time to
meet with candor and frankness argu-
ment designed to controvert any posi-
ton he may assume; but he does not
propose to be diverted from the pur-
pose by anything like the cloud of dust
the fly imagined he kicked up when he
rode on the the revolving cart-wheel.
The STANDARD holds that if there
was a necessity for a change of Ad-
ministration as a means of instituting
a new line of policy, there was just as
much demand for a change of subor-
dinates, with whom the people are
brought in more immediate contact,
and who from their knowledge of the
intricacies of official routine are in a
position to materially retard, if they
chose to do so, the development Of
any given reform. 1t was charged,
and we do not believe that anybody
will dispute the assertion, that gigan-
tic frauds were perpetrated in the
land service under former Admins
trations, despite the fact that an army
of officers were paid to protect the Gov
eminent from the designing schemes
of knavish spectators. 1t was equal
ly true that these officers were either
powerless,' in resisting these evil deeds,
for some cause, or were in league with
these perpetrators, and the precise
place where the responsibility lies has
not been officially determined. It is
fair, therefore, to hold the former Ad-
ministration responsible, as a whole,
for a course that cannot be traced to
any particular individual, and the
public safety requires that all who
may have been implicated should give
place to those who are known to be in
favor of bringing such facts to light as
may restore lands fraudulent held and
put a stop to similar populations.
The STANDARD made no charge against
any individual, but against the policy
of retaining men in Office who were
part of the machinery in motion
when these frauds were perpetrated.
The charges that Vere made were by
sworn officers of the Interior Depart
ment, charged with the prosecution
of fraudulent land entries, and the
suggestions of the STANDARD were
prompted by oft-repeated requests of
these same sworn officers for hear
ing in these columns. That their pro-
tests, sustaining every position taken,
are on file in the Office of the Com
missioner, the writer has the best of
reasons for knowing, and that they
will be effective he believes time will
soon determine.
This is simply the whole matter in
nutshell. The facts are as stated.
If they hurt anybody, blame facts and
not the STANDARD.
WE'LL 20 two bits that the Citizens
with the Union Labor Ticket of Tacoma
The Citizens" ticket il about the only one
that enables the surly old stiffs-the
pharisees who thank God they are not as
other mAll-fO get nm n ring And uauallY